A Tenuous Existence

[Blackest Night]

“Got you this time, you blonde bas-“

“I prefer to omit the obscenities in the presence of such lovely ladies, lad.”

Bubbly giggles, hardly more genuine than the man with the British lilt that caused them, wafted lightly from a dimly lit bistro. The establishment itself had closed quite some time ago, but that served as no impediment to the beginning of a long (and for some, painful) game of cards. For three hours, a man with crystalline blue eyes, various piercings, short blonde hair, and a similar goatee had dominated every single hand. His poker face was impeccable. Why, it was as if he had no feelings at all.

That very same man sat patiently and quietly, holding his cards in one hand and the hand of a lady in another. He did not ask for her name. He did not truly care. He would never see her again, and she would undoubtedly forget him the moment her next nocturnal, unscrupulous customer came along. The poor, unfortunate fellow sitting across the table from him had already lost quite a bit of money, his cat, and his left shoe. This last hand was going to be the difference between wealth and a very angry wife.

So, he quickly prayed to whatever god he could think of at the moment, making sure to include all the Fates and the character on the TV show his little girl loved so much. Once finished, he flashed a smile, and placed his cards triumphantly on the table. The blonde man looked on with detached interest.

“A full house.”

Indeed it was. Three nines, and two aces. Formidable indeed. The blonde man smiled, and the poor unfortunate soul laid his head upon the table. The blonde’s cards were laid on the table, and bubbly giggles erupted once more.

“Don’t tell me.”

“A royal flush.”

“Oh, WHAT THE F-“

Before the man could finish his vulgarity, a playing card bopped him in the side of his head, confusing him enough to halt his speech.

“You’d do well to remember your manners in front of women, lad.”

The loser looked up, locking eyes with the man who had singlehandedly ruined his marriage.

“What’s your name.”

“I can’t say it matters. I daresay you won’t see me again.”

“Come on.”

“I believethat is mine.”

The man’s cat meowed curiously from its perch atop a nearby table. The loser reluctantly stood, picked up the cat gently, kissed it, and placed in front of the winner.

"Always a pleasure."

Fifteen minutes later, the blonde strode down an alley, having left the pleasurable company behind in favor of solitude. He held the cat cradled in one arm, moonlight and wind filling the alley. His black coat rippled and waved, the feline nestled rather comfortably against it. It was very upset when its new owner removed it from its place by the scruff of its neck and placed it unceremoniously on garbage can. It watched as the man removed slip of paper from his pocket, wrote on it, and slipped the note into its collar.

“Well? Off you go.”

The cat, having found a new dislike for this man and his uncouth behavior, took off towards its home. In its collar, scrawled elegantly upon the note, was a single word.

“Luxord.”

[Rainfire]

(OOC: To be honest I'm not 100% sure what I should be doing at the moment, so if this is wrong tell me Sean.)

Knowledge was the one true power in the world. If you held knowledge, you held the key to every door in the universe, every mystery... every question. It was the pinnacle of existence for anyone who really knew anything about existence in general. It was easy to obtain too, it could be found in the simplest of creations.

Books.

Zexion was in love with knowledge. In all honesty it was probably the one love he had... if he could indeed love. That required the questionable existence of his emotions and feelings, of which he didn't know he had. Often Zexion would wonder whether or not he indeed had them, or a heart in general for that matter. He was non-existent yet he existed... and according to books, a paradox could not exist. Then, it left the perplexing question that puzzled him... not only as a scientist but as a human being (if he could be called that) period:

How was he here?

His eyes scanned the words upon the book that he held. It was his journal -- not only of his thoughts and "feelings" as a former human being but as all the knowledge he had ascertained when... well, when he was doing whatever it was he did as a human being. He couldn't quite remember at the moment -- it was really all too fuzzy but he was sure it would come back eventually. For all the searching he was doing, in all of his writings, there was no answer. How then, did he become what he was now? It almost angered him except for the fact that that would be considered an emotion and he wasn't sure if he was capable of such.

Zexion stared down from the shadows, momentarily taking his eyes off of his book. He was currently situated in a large library... in some city that he couldn't be sure of a name. There were others, the last few of the night's remnants. This was supposed to have been closed by now but there were a couple of young people down there, flirting or researching or something. He wasn't sure himself but disregarded it anyway. His eyes continued to scan the index of literati and publication that filled this place better than the void filled his entirety. That was a first.

He sniffed the air and wondered if perhaps his nose would help him out. He could track the scents of others and of certain material but questioned the extent of his ability. What was it all for though? His frustration could still be contained at the second by his sense of control but he wasn't sure how long it would last. How long would any of it last really? He frowned ever so slightly at the idea but quickly regained his composure as he continued to search -- to search for what he could not understand.

It would be a long night.

[Blackest Night]

Luxord stared devilishly into the eyes of a particularly violent young fellow, who had taken it upon himself to relieve the Nobody of his newly acquired wealth. Truly, Luxord himself had no need for money. He rarely went shopping and what he needed, he took. Furthermore, the boy’s, for Luxord could hardly call him a man, attempt to intimidate his would-be victim fell short. Fear is a response to stimuli, external or otherwise, that the mind considers generally unpleasant. Fear is an emotion.

Luxord was not lucky enough to feel fear.

“Hand it over!”

The Nobody’s cerulean eyes drifted with mild curiosity to the knife held in the boy’s hand. It was long, and appeared to be capable of drawing quite a bit of blood. The boy’s other hand was outstretched, grabbing at money not yet produced, while his eyes betrayed his words. He was terrified. This blonde man had hardly even blinked since the knife had been flashed, and…was he smiling? No, it wasn’t a smile. There was no happiness. A smirk?

“I said I want the money!”

“Or?”

This apparently stupefied the young lad. He had not prepared himself for this particular inquiry.

“Well, I’ll…I’ll have to use this!”

He waved the knife. Luxord laughed.

“Will you, now? I find myself absolutely replete with fear and terror. Surely you’ll take pity on a poor man such as myself and allow me to leave with my life.”

“You’re what?”

“Please, take the money.”

The boy let his knife hand fall, confused.

“Are…are you serious?”

“Of course not.”

The boy saw a card fly out of the man’s sleeve. It was the last thing he ever saw. Luxord took a look at his new card, complete with the image of a local emblazoned on its face. The fear was right in the expression. It would help him remember what such an emotion was like. For now, however, there was work to be done.

A tall, dark portal announced Luxord’s entrance into the library where Zexion resided. There were no normal folk around, and so Luxord was spared the trouble of dealing with curious onlookers. The quiet, bookish schemer had taken up temporary residence along one rather massive wall of various tomes.

“Have you been fortunate enough to discover anything about this world, or are we diving ever so fruitfully into the past again, VI?

[Rainfire]

Zexion could smell Luxord's arrival before it came. Once again it had something to do with his heightened senses... he was sure he wasn't the only Nobody that had acquired some kind of enhanced abilities or new abilities for that matter. Wait... did he have abilities before now? He scratched his chin as he put the current book he was looking at down softly, closing his eyes as if letting go of this effort before speaking.

"It appears this is yet futile once more, X. My Lexicon has failed to retrieve any useful information as per this 'vast fountain of knowledge'... empty and worthless." he sighed as he finished the sentence, shaking his head before running his hand through his hair, smoothing it over to one side, the silver tendrils obeying without question.

He finally looked over to Luxord out of the corner of his eye and sniffed gently. After a few seconds he closed his one visible eye, a smirk blessing his features for a few seconds.

"Out playing cards again I take it? How is it that you don't seem to contributing to our 'plight' as well? Perhaps you just don't care?" He wanted to laugh but resisted the urge before waving his hand nonchalantly over his personal book, making it disappear from sight. His gaze never once touched Luxord but if one looked close enough they could tell that his attention was certainly on the Nobody. Luxord was a tricky character -- and Zexion knew his tricks. He was the "schemer" of the group after all. In fact, if Zexion wasn't here, Luxord probably would have his title himself.

[Rikken Omnious]

A boy with incredibly wild-looking red hair strolled non-challantly though the streets finding a small alley in which to disappear into. He raised his left hand and looked around, a small boy, a onlooker as it would seem was watching with interested at what this unsual man was doing. He was raising his arm towards the wall, but what for? His question was answered almost immediately as a large black portal appeared on the wall in front of the stranger. The boy had no time to react as he was turned into a nobody by the power of the portal. It stood there for a few minutes before disappearing into the night.

"Portals to darkness are dangerous. Got that memorised?" He said to nobody before stepping though it. To emerge in the library a few feet away with an albeit sudden appearance. "Your having a party and you didnt invite me? The nerve." He said to Luxord and Zexion. "It seems someone is missing from our little group. Larxene. It must be."

[Game_Punk]

OOC: sorry been busy

Riker stands in the shadow cast by the headquarters of the Organization, he then looks down at his hands his swords had been moments away from killing another person, when he was suddenly summoned by the leader. Angry but not stupid, Riker obeyed the summons and returned to headquarters. The leader of the Organization was awaiting him at the top of the castle.
"What could he want now? This better be good." he slowly, sulkily walks up to the entrance of the castle and proceeds to the top. As he makes his way up he passes random nobodies and Organization members, ignoring them all he simply continues to make his way up, wondering what he could be needed for he. finally he reaches the door leading out to the top balcony where the leader waits for him to appear. With a shrug he pushes the door open and walks out on to the balcony.
"You summoned me, sir?" this was of course a rhetorical question.
"Yes, there is a job I want you to do." the master stares up into the sky, almost longingly, not turning to look at Riker.
"Well, what do you need me to do?" waiting for the masters response he grips his blades tightly, wanting to leave.
"I want you do do what you're good at, I want you to kill someone, for me." this statement was made with what could be called hateful glee, that is if that were possible for the leader.
"Who and Where?" Riker states with his usual "indifference" to human life, he literally felt no emotion on the fact.
"First I want you to go visit Zexion and the others, you know where to find them. When the time comes I will summon you with the persons location."
"Alright, until then." Rikker opens a portal of darkness next to him, as he goes to leave the leader turns his head and says.
"Oh, and slow down with the random killing, its very unnecessary." then he turns back to looking at the sky.

Almost instantly after stepping into the portal he is teleported to the library that Zexion, Luxord, and Axel are currently at. With a frown he walks over to the nearest chair and sits down, if he could feel emotions this would be a very unpleasant moment for him. He says nothing just sits, letting the other three spaek first.

[Vital Signs]

A girl with short blonde hair and two striking bangs hanging over her face, walked down towards the riverbank her emotions cast adrift like the leaves floating downstream on the waters surface. She sat down at the waters edge and dipped her feet in the cold water that sent a tingle up her spine. She decided to make her way to the libary.. She could feel that her presence was needed. She raised her hand and a portal appeared. She stepped though it.

Appearing almost directly later, Larxene, appeared just after Axel finished his sentence. "Well.. im here... sorry about the wait."

[Blackest Night]

"Call them what ou will, but I've discovered that there is scarcely a more beneficial way to familiarize oneself with a world than interacting with the native people. I have, of course, brought souvenirs."

Luxord slid the knife out of his sleeve, tossing it into a book within Zexion's rather diminished visual range. He knew that the damaging of a potential tome of knowledge might strike some chord within the Cloaked Schemer. He hardly cared. Every Nobody could benefit from a little echo of emotion every now and again.

"A local's weapon."

Luxord smiled. With an empy chuckle, he allowed the boy's card to flit out of his grasp and hover in front of the silver-haired shell. The expression on the card was priceless.

"And the local."

Luxord opened his mouth to speak once more, yet found himself interrupted by a voice he deemed nothing more than excruciating. It belonged to a fellow whose very presence reminded Luord of a foul smell. He was violent, crude, and extremely impolite. He was VII, Axel.

"Your having a party and you didnt invite me? The nerve."

Luxord did not bother looking at Axel. The Flurry had never been among Luxord's favorite members of the Organization. He found Axel's methods barbaric and vulgar.

"It occurred to me, VII, that one of the very last things we would require here would be for this entire town to go up in flames due to your instability."

As if on cue, Larxene, the Savage Nymph, appeared. Much to Luxord's amazement, and undoubtedly Zexion's as well, Larxene did something he had never heard her do before. She apologized. He doubted that anyone had ever heard such a thing pass the sadistic woman's lips. The small group was joined finally by another Nobody, one who was not a member of the Organization, yet always seemed to tag along regardless. Apparently no particular fan of words, one of Luxord's favorite things, the Nobody sat down in a chair and simply stared.

Luxord did not enjoy silence. He did not truly enjoy anything, but he vaguely remembered possessing an extreme dislike of it. So, he took to speaking, his talent. He addressed every Nobody that had entered the Library after himself.

"Well, to what do Zexion and I owe the distinct pleasure of your company?"

[.Oji]

"A deficient being, whom lacks the presence of a heart. Cannot partake in the bliss of Paradise, but is damned to tread in the dark," recites a hidden voice.

A hueless, cold vortex of blackness presented itself within the darkest corner of the library, unveiling a hooded-figure. Lifting his hood away from his face, Lennox, displaying a rather detached expression, glanced at the Nobodies who stood before him. His silver eyes were spiritless; a manisfestation of despair defined them perfectly.

"Forgive me for my intrusion," he murmured, placing his hands into the cold recesses of his pockets as he sauntered towards a shelf of books, all of which are poems about 'Paradise' -- a subject Lennox is quite fond of. He was fascinated with words that spoke of 'Paradise,' a land where ideal beauty and delight resides. It was the only thing that made him feel human, much like Zexion and his love for knowledge.

"Mind enlightening me why the five of you aren't currently collecting hearts, at the moment," he inquired as he shifts through the cumulation of books. "It seems Saïx was telling the truth when he said some members lacks vigor and determination."

[Rainfire]

(OOC: I don't think Saix is in this one .Oji)

Zexion glared at Luxord for a moment. That ... person had just ruined a perfectly good volume of literature. Before he could say something about it though it seemed that they were not meant to have this evening alone. His eyes slowly moved towards Axel, having smelt him most of all. The man needed a bath horribly but Zexion did not make any motion to give an indication of his recognition of the smell.

Then, more and more interruptions became apparent. Zexion was beginning to grow wary of these distractions. He then went forward with what he was going to say once they had all appeared and said their piece. Some of these Nobodies were not so important -- they were just merely tools to be used. The others though he had to keep a respect for -- if not for their abilities... for the fact that they might stab him in the back when he wasn't looking.

"Anyway, I wasn't finished. If you would all just shut-up, I would like to report that there is nothing on this world that gives us any clues as to... why we exist like we do. If no one else has any suggestions or leads here then I think it is time we move on. I have collected enough data on this world to write a book on it ten volumes over."

Zexion reached up with a hand and smoothed his hair back over to one side of his face, covering that side as per his usual look. His deep colored eyes scanned the room of shells that sat or stood before him. He reached down and removed the weapon from the tome and nonchalantly threw it so that it stuck into the ceiling. His gaze then returned back to level so that he could look at everyone.

[Game_Punk]

Watching the group intently, Riker decides that his presence must be quite an annoyance to most of these Organization members. He continued to say nothing as Zexion finished talking. This is when Riker decides to speak.

"It seems I'm not needed here, but I'm stuck following you lot around until I get further orders. I hope that doesn't bother any of you to much, not that any of us can be bothered." He puts on what could be called a grimace more then a smile and returns to his silence.

[Blackest Night]

“Really, VI? You’ve not discovered single worthwhile piece of information?”

After the arrival, and various comments, of the other Nobodies, Luxord had taken to leaning against a wall of books, with subjects ranging from Anthropology to the discussion and appreciation of the common brown squirrel. Cards flipped between his hands, becoming the only sound in the otherwise noiseless periods that should have felt awkward. He made a mental bet with himself. Which card would be on top?

Three of spades.

Damn. Jack of Clubs.

“In my travels, I’ve come across a sort of… local legend, if you will. Beneath this city, as with most, there lies a series of tunnels which collectively serve as their sewer system. Within these tunnels, sightings of, and I quote, “strange black freaks with creepy yellow eyes” have been reported. Common sense, a gift I am so fortunate to possess and charitable enough to share with you all, leads me to presume that these ebony apparitions are Heartless.”

Luxord shifted his gaze to Lennox, his grin never fading. If anything, it only grew.

“You may inform SaÏx that we have located this world’s heart. The Heartless are drawn to it, hence their localized presence. In good time, we will have acquired the heart of this world, swelling our ranks of Nobodies and the Heartless themselves. “

The cards descended neatly into Luxord’s sleeves, and the man assumed his usual thinking position: one arm propped on the other with his hand in front of his chin.

“Unless,of course, any of you are imprudent enough to protest.”

[.Oji]

"Oblivion awaits those who audaciously sins against the Organization. If the situation warrants it, I'll personally make sure the traitors never gain enrty into Paradise," Lennox muttered icily in response to Luxord's last statement. 'Traitor' was a nostalgic term burned into Lennox's memory - he remembered ever so fondly how he first experienced the word, and other terms synonymous to it, which disgusted him.

His lazy gaze sluggishly drifted towards Luxord's current leaning position, observing his grin. How smug... he thought remotely, allowing a page from his book escape the subtle touch of his finger tips. In response to number X's grin, he merely sighed inwardly, displaying a lazy expression which seems to say "I wonder why you're incapable of delivering this information."

Closing his novel, he guides it to his pocket as he rose from his reclined state - reaching for his hood as he prepares to enter the Corridor of Darkness. He was grateful to converse with SaÏx once more, a nobody whom shares his sentiments.

"While I go forth to impart number VIII of Luxord's revelation, I'd advise you to keep a close eye on the Heartlesses endeavors. Garner a few hearts, if you will."

[Game_Punk]

"Garner a few hearts, that sounds better." losing the false smile he rests his hands on his swords "So tell me how do we find the heart of this world." He looks around at all other nobodies waiting for an answer. Then he props his feet up on a stack of books and starts humming to himself, the tune is something he's all ways known, yet he's never heard it before. "Why am I here, I really want to kill something." he thinks to himself while humming his little tune. The tune is kinda slow and sad sounding, kinda like a song of morning.

[.Oji]

The gentle breeze of the crisp night air flowed amid the winding streets of the Dark City. A harmonious chorus of raindrops pattering steadily against the rooftops of vacant buildings, tapping against metal pipes, and splashing beside present puddles resonated throughout the metropolis like a smooth, contemporary jazz. Evidently, it was apparently the melody which broke the usual disquieting silence which, 'The World That Never Was' made infamous.

Lennox reveled the euphonical ballad which the rain seemingly orchestrated; it was quite poetic to him. Occasionally, he would let his pale eyes gander at the neon signs attached to the unoccupied edifices as he strolled leisurely alongside the streets. He knew that this city had no population - even when he's the only occupant, it remained at zero, for he didn't exist. Was he not real, was reality to him just a mere false notion - an illusion?

"Nonsense."

Lennox muttered under his quiet sigh, slightly smirking as he headed for Memory's Skyscraper, where a cloaked individual awaits him.

"I see you're enjoying the rain as well, Lennox," voiced a scarred being, gazing ever so intently at the strangely shaped moon hovering near an enormous floating white castle which dominated the sky. The Organization's emblem decorated the immense castle, dotting every corner of the fortified stronghold, or more appropriately, the fortress of Organization XIII.

"If my heart was with me, I'd suppose that'd be an accurate statement," he replied, removing his hood from his face whilst trudging up the stairs presented before him. "It seems you were correct when we last spoke - apparently, number X was off dawdling in the affairs of others in that world."

"Typical," Saïx voiced in dull monotone.

He expected as such from the Gambler of Fate - him an Xigbar always had a certain lackadaisical aura around them, which annoyed the Luna Diviner. Shifting his position on the rail which he leaned up against, he side-glanced at Lennox whilst parting his lips to speak. "Did you aqcuire any useful information?"

"Apparently, while off lollygagging, Luxord located the world's heart."

"And Zexion?"

"Unfortunately, he couldn't discover any worthwhile information... so I've heard," Lennox titled his head in disappointment, placing his left hand behind his neck. "Despite that, I believe the Superior will be content with X's piece of info once he awakens from his slumber."

"I'd surmise as such," uttered Saïx, crossing his arms as he listens to rumble of thunder. "Keep an eye on number X and the others whom were given assignments in that world until further notice, Seer of Despair."

Lennox merely nodded as he snapped his fingers together, opening a portal of darkness before him.